Apparatus for making plate glass



2 Sheets-Sheet 1- R O T m m w M MW W wM I Q w. OWEN APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLATE GLASS Filed on. 22, 19:50

Dec. 15, 1931.

Dec. 15, 1931. w, OWEN 1,836,494

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLATE GLASS Filed (kit. 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UH -i- I. :1} Ii} 1...

|l| .ln lll |l|lll .lllll- Illll Ill Patented Dec. 15, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM OWE-N, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASS IGNO'R TO PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR MAKING PLATE GILASS Application filed October 22, 1930.

i The invention relates to apparatus for making plate glass by an intermittent casting or rolling operation and then carrying the glass continuously forward through a leer. preferably of the roller type. In such an operation, it is desirable to roll the sheet at arelatively high rate of speed and then carry such sheet through the leer at a much reduced rate, as otherwise an exceedingly long leer would be required. Thepresent invention has for its object the provision of an improved means for carrying out this operation including the step of matching the successive sheets so that they may be made to follow each other in the leer with as short a space therebetween as may be found desirable. One embodiment of the invention 1s shown in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a plan view somewhat diagrammatic in character. Fig. 2 1s a longitudinal section. And Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged detail views of the receiving table, Fig. 3 being ,a lan view and Fig. 4. a vertical section.

eferring to thedrawings, A is a rolling apparatus comprising a pair of rolls, between which a pot of glass is cast, carried by a car B and movable longitudinally of a roller runway or table C during thelatter part of the casting operation; D is a roller leer, E is a line shaft extending the length of the leer and runway and arranged to drive the leer rolls,

the runway rolls, the sizing rolls, and the car which carries the sizing rolls, such line shaft.

being driven from its left hand end by a motor which is not shown; and F is a shield or hood of sheet metal lying at one end of the runway and movable with the ear B, so that it telescopes into the leer at one end and into Serial No. 490,440.

the rolls and also around a drive sprocket on the end of the shaft 10. The shaft 10 is driven from the shaft E at low speed through the electric clutch 11, gears 12 and 13, and

reduction gearing in the casing 14. Such shaft is driven at a higher speed in a reverse direction during the casting operation, as

later described, through the clutch 11a, gears" interspersed with coolers 17 (Figs. 3 andl), through which air or water maybe circulated carrying the sectional plates 18, the sectional construction being employed to avold warping. The rolls are cooled by c1rculating air or water therethrough, and additionalcooling may be provided in the form of the air supply pipes 19 perforated along their upper.

sides.

The sizing rolls 20 and 21 are hollow and water cooled in the usual way. The roll 21 isdriven by a chain 22 passing around a sprocket on the end of the roll and around loose sprockets on the shafts 23, 23, one of which may be locked to its shaft by the clutch 24. The shafts 23, 23. are driven from the shaft E through the spur gears 25, 25 and reduction gearing in the casings 26, 26. The roll 20 is driven from the roll 21 by means of the intermeshing spur gears 27.

The track for the car is in the form of a pair of racks 28, 28 which are engaged by the Wheels of the car which are in the form of spur gears 29. One pair of these gears is provided with a shaft carrying a sprocket over whose upperrside in driving engagement therewith passes the chain 30. This chain passes around sprockets loose on the shafts 23, 23, one of v which may be locked to its shaft by the clutch 31. This gearing arrangement provides for moving the car to the right. Provision is also made for moving the car to the left. This is accomplished through the shaft carrying the spur gears 29. A. second sprocket is provided upon this shaft over whose lower side in driving engagement therewith passes the chain This chain passes around sprockets loose on the shafts 23, 23, one of which may be locked to its shaft by the clutch 33. Beneath the rolls 20 and 21 is a hollow apron 34: suitably cooled and arranged to direct the sheet of glass formed between the rolls toward the end of the runway remote from the leer.

The starting position of the apparatus is with" the car'and sizing. rolls atithe fullline.

position shown in Fig. 2. When. the glass from the pot 35 is poured into the hopper 36, the sizing rolls 20 and 21 are rotated'at casting speed as are also the rolls 8 of the runway, such speed being by way 'ofillustrationabout 30 feet per minute. This continues until the endof the sheet 37' approaches the position adjacentthe end 'of the runway, as indicated in Fig. 2. The car Bcarrying the sizing, rolls is now moved tothe right and the direction of occupy. the dotted line position G of Fig. 2.

The car is now moved back to starting position andafter the sheet reachesthe-position.

markedlH asecond casting operation is initiated, the operation being carried out as heretoforev described. By timing this second operation properly, the second sheet may be deposited with its left hand end closely adjacent the rear end of the first sheet; This matching or close spacing, of the sheets. is possible because of the mounting of the sizing rolls upon the car for movement to the left and because of the reversal of rotation of the runway rolls 8; The result achievedis a full utilization ofthe leer space, which could not.

be securedif the sizing rolls were not mount.- ed. for movement longitudinally of theleer and-runway.

WVhat I claim is:

1. Apparatus for making'a. sheet of glass comprising a leer. having continuously operating forwarding means, a runway at the end'of the leer, means for driving said for.- warding means in the same direction and at the same speed as the leer forwarding means, or in a reverse direction at a higher rate of speed, a car mounted for movement back and-forth along the runway, means for moving the car, a pair of sizing rolls'carried by the car above the runway, an apron on the car below the rolls for receiving the sheet formedbetween such rolls, such apron being'directed toward'the end of the runway remote from the leer, and means for rotatingthe sizing rolls as the car is moved along the runway toward the leer at a rate of peripheral speed which is substantially equal to the rate of movement of the car less the rate of movement of the leer rolls.

2. Apparatus for making. a sheet of glass comprising a leer having continuously operating forwarding means, a runway at the end of the leer, means for driving said forwarding-means inthe same directionand at.

the same speedas the. 1m. forwarding means, or in a reverse direction at a higher rate of speed, a car'mounted for movement back and forth along the runway, means for moving the car, a pair-of sizing rolls carried by the car above the. runway, an apron on the car below the rolls for. receiving the sheet.

formed between sucliroll's, such apron being. directed toward the end of the' runway. re-

mote from the leer, a. casing surrounding.

the runway, ashi'eld extending over the for.- ward: end". ofthe leer movable witlithe' car and arranged. to telescope inside the casing.,.

and. means for rotati'ng the. sizing. rolls as thecar. is moved along the runway toward, the leer at a. rate. of peripheral speed" which.

is substantially equalf to the rate of movement of the. CElBlGSSthQ- rate ofi'movementof the leer. rolls;

3. Apparatus for maliihga sheet of glass comprising aroller. leer.,a roller runway. at the entrance endlof the leer, means for operating said'l rolls inthe same direction and. at annealing speed, 'means for operating, the rolls of. the runway inthe reverse direction at. a: higher rate. of. speed than. annealing speed, .a car mountedfor movement back and' forth. along; therunway, a. pair. of. sizing. rolls carried by the car above the. runway,.

anapron on the car for receiving, the. sheet formed: between. thev rolls directed toward the endiof, the. runway remote from the leer; means for. rotating the-sizing rolls at a. rate of peripheral speed whichv is greater than that of. the leer. rolls, and means for moving. the car toward. the leer. during. the. latter part. of. the casting. operation at a rate of' spee'djwhich is substantially equal to the rate of'peripheral speed" of the sizingrolls plus that ofTthe leer. rolls.

In. testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my. name. this. lr'fday. of O'ctober,

WILLIAM. OWEN. 

